Wake up to the problem

This week in the Herald Sun, James Currie claimed that Tecoma is not “the sleepy little hollow” it is made out to be by highlighting examples of other food stores nearby.
What he does not highlight is the fact that none of these other stores come anywhere near the scale of the recently opened McDonald’s outlet.
They do not have a drive-through and they are not permitted to stay open for 24 hours, unlike their new neighbour.
Most of these stores, even on Friday and Saturday night, are closed before 10pm.
I will accept his assurance that the “Yarra Ranges way of life” will not be disrupted by his outlet if he can guarantee garbage from it does not end up in nearby forests and parklands.
And before supporters retort that the franchisee is not directly accountable for the rubbish generated by his store, it does not change the fact that rubbish from the outlet will manifest in the surrounding area.
Although until last week the closest outlet was in Ferntree Gully, discarded McDonald’s packaging is already frequently seen throughout the Dandenongs.
The sight of such rubbish diminishes the experience of those who choose to take a day trip into the hills to escape the city as well as bothering local residents.
I call that, especially with the 24 hour availability of McDonald’s products in the area, a disruption.
Apart from the environmental concerns, I count myself among the opponents of this establishment as those who primarily focus upon the unsuitability of the McDonald’s outlet for an area already plagued by poor traffic flow, particularly in peak periods.
While I cannot deny the benefit of employment for young local people, I do ask can that one benefit outweigh the negatives posed by this much discussed outlet.
Troy Clinton,
Belgrave.